Herald Sun Footy Podcast: Lauren Wood, Michael Warner, Jon Anderson and Scott Gullan debate the big issues
As the AFL faces the biggest financial crisis in its history, spending decisions in recent years take on a new light. And one Herald Sun journo says the ‘extravagance’ was costly.
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The AFL would be in a stronger position to weather the coronavirus crisis if it had spent less on “extravagant” decisions in the past 20 years, according to Herald Sun footy writer Michael Warner.
League boss Gillon McLachlan said on Sunday the AFL was facing “the biggest financial crisis in our history” and this week most football department staff have been sent home without pay as the league engages in tense negotiations with players about a huge pay cut.
Speaking on the first episode of the Herald Sun Footy Podcast for 2020, Warner said the AFL could have had a lot more than $60 million in its future fund.
“Spending in football got out of control in the last 20 years, starting in the (Andrew) Demetriou era,” he said.
“They had rivers of gold flowing in off the TV money, but you think about the money that was wasted now (on) things like Israel Folau or Karmichael Hunt, Gold Coast Suns ... we had New York junkets, business class, they got ahead of themselves.
“Demetriou’s salary was $3.8 million in his final year, that’s obscene. Gil’s salary is now a secret.
“I think this could be a good thing for football when we get through it, the extravagance should have gone out the window years ago.”
Warner said the 20 per cent pay cut offered by AFL executives a week ago was “laughable now” but the game would survive thanks to Marvel Stadium which has been valued at $1 billion.
LISTEN TO THE FIRST EPISODE OF THE HERALD SUN FOOTY PODCAST FOR 2020 BELOW OR SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES:
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